The Toronto District School Board says it will close for in-person learning&nbsp;Friday and stay that way for as long as education workers are on strike.

Ontario's largest school board sent a communication to families Wednesday night outlining its plan as some 55,000 education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are set to walk off the job after contract negotiations with the province fell apart.

"Student supervision and safety are our top priorities and without the important services of nearly 15,000 CUPE employees, we cannot guarantee that our learning environments will remain safe and clean for all students," the board said in its note to families.

Those employees include early childhood educators, educationat assistants and custodians.

Students will be given work to complete independently at home, the board added.&nbsp;

"Should the job action extend beyond Friday, more information will be shared."

The dispute between Ontario's government and education workers, explained

Education assistants, early childhood educators and custodians are among the workers seeking an 11.7 per cent pay raise. It's much higher than most Canadians will get this year — but labour experts say there's important context behind the number.

Empty desks and chairs are spaced out in a bright classroom.

A physically distanced classroom is seen at Kensington Community School amidst the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio

COVID Ont 20200901

An empty classroom in Toronto in September 2020. Some Ontario schools closed to in-person learning after education workers walked off the job Friday.

Ontario education workers to strike 'until further notice' as Lecce says talks won't proceed

Ontario's education minister suggested Wednesday there wouldn't be much movement at the bargaining table with education workers ahead of a looming strike despite the union proposing a counter-offer.

Almost 200 people gathered on Saturday in front of the Toronto Congress Centre in support of education workers and their contract negotiations with the Ontario government. The Ontario PC party was meeting at the centre for their general meeting.

Education worker protest CUPE

Almost 200 people gathered on Saturday in front of the Toronto Congress Centre in support of education workers and their contract negotiations with the Ontario government. The Ontario government has introduced legislation to impose a contract on the education workers and ban them from striking upon threat of steep fines.

Any students already enrolled in virtual learning will continue as normal. Meanwhile, third-party child care operators located within TDSB facilities will be open on Friday and the board said it will provide further information if the strike action continues into next week.

CUPE leadership said Wednesday that its members will remain on strike "until further notice" after Friday. That announcement came as the Ontario government continued to rush through legislation that would impose a four-year contract on education workers.

The government tabled the legislation Monday&nbsp;—&nbsp;the morning after CUPE&nbsp;issued a strike notice to school boards&nbsp;— and it is expected to pass today.

, which would ultimately act to prevent the education workers from being able to legally strike.&nbsp;The clause allows the legislature to override portions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for a five-year term.

"We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached before Friday. Should the situation change, we will provide families with updates as they become available," the TDSB said in its message to families.

About 15,000 of the 55,000 Ontario education workers set to walk off the job Friday work in the Toronto District School Board.

TDSB to close for in-person learning for duration of looming education workers' strike

More Stories Like This